The NFL Combine is beginning to wrap up, but there are still some position groups yet to perform. Ohio State's Jeffrey Okudah gets most of the attention, but there are some other solid CB prospects this year who will get to show off their physical abilities during the on-field drills. Here are five to watch this weekend.
5. Jeff Gladney, TCU
Gladney is an undersized but feisty defender with all the intangibles you want in a corner. He is a willing tackler, physical in man coverage, and has great ball skills. At 5'10” 191lbs he may have to play inside the majority of the time, but he'll still be quite effective there.
Teams will be looking to see if Gladney's film matches his testing; on the field he's agile and twitchy but may not have the best long-speed. With defenses relying on more and more corners, a solid NFL Combine performance should solidify Gladney as at worst a mid-second rounder.
4. Cameron Dantzler, Mississippi State
Dantzler stands a tall 6'2″ but is just 188lbs and has short arms at 30″ 5/8. He didn't have any issues strength-wise against collegiate competition but will need to add more muscle to his frame to play press-man at the next level. Dantzler was a champion long-jumper in high school so he should do quite well in the athletic drills.
He played well against top competition in the SEC and should be able to start right away for his new team. However, scouts need to make sure they feel like Dantzler can improve his frame over the next few months, and that his poor run defense won't hurt him too much. LSU's Greedy Williams had many of the same concerns last year, and while he wasn't very good as a rookie, his tackling in the run game was fine.
If Dantzler tests well enough, he could sneak into the back half of the first round.
3. A.J. Terrell, Clemson
With how much success the Tigers have seen over the last few seasons, Terrell was matched up against some elite wide receiver talent, and for the most part he performed admirably. He's a little thin at 6'1″ 195lbs, but there is room for him to add more weight to his frame. The problem is whether or not doing that will slow him down too much, given that he doesn't appear to have the best speed on tape.
Terrell finished with six interceptions over three collegiate seasons, but his ball skills aren't fantastic. As players like Richard Sherman prove, you don't have to be fast to be a successful NFL CB. Terrell's agility testing will be important to watch.
2. C.J. Henderson, Florida
The comparisons to Greedy Williams are unavoidable with Henderson, and Henderson's testing should only further them. On tape he is fast and fluid, with the size to hold up against bigger WRs and the speed to stick with smaller slots. Where Williams and Henderson differ is their willingness to tackle.
Williams seemed to have an aversion to physicality (although that changed in the NFL, and was often chalked up to protecting himself), while Henderson does not. But that's not to say Henderson is good in run support; he overruns tackles far too often and needs to be better at shedding blocks. But a defensive back's primary assignment is to defend the pass, and Henderson can do that very well.
His on-field drill performance should guarantee him a first-round selection, and could potentially push him into the top 20 picks.
1. Trevon Diggs, Alabama
The younger brother of Minnesota Vikings superstar Stefon Diggs, Trevon is built to lock down receivers. He stands 6'1″ 205lbs with 32″ 3/4 arms. Diggs has fantastic ball skills and often looks like a WR running a route. His tackling needs work and he wasn't the most consistent player in college, but Diggs has the potential to be an excellent player in the pros. He should test well in the agility drills, but his 40-yard dash will be important.
His straight-line speed did not appear to be the best, and although that's not a death sentence to a DB, it certainly doesn't help matters.
Diggs is a likely first-rounder. The NFL Combine may determine whether he's the third CB selected or if he falls a bit further.
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